“If people want me to change my approach, it is not going to change.”
Ange Postecoglou, the head coach of Tottenham Hotspur, has made it clear he will not compromise the beliefs that have previously brought him success.
The hierarchy at the club must decide if it still believes in Postecoglou.
Spurs’ chairman Daniel Levy faces a familiar crossroads: stick with a head coach or appoint a new man to lead another “new era”?
If Spurs part ways with Postecoglou this summer, it will be searching for a fifth permanent manager in five-and-a-half years. Under Levy’s 24 years leading the club, Spurs has cycled through various managerial styles. José Mourinho and Antonio Conte, proven winners with pragmatic but effective styles, were appointed to deliver the club its first trophy since 2008.
When that failed, Levy pivoted back to a project-focused approach with Postecoglou. The idea was to develop the squad instead of expecting instant success and, importantly, return the attacking philosophy Levy calls part of Spurs’ “DNA”.
Postecoglou joined Spurs in June, 2023, and made an impressive start. But with hugely disappointing results and performances this season, patience, a virtue rarely associated with Levy, is wearing thin.
The decision to keep or sack Postecoglou is one of the biggest calls Levy has had to make. Fans have largely turned on him rather than the Australian coach, intensifying the pressure to make the right choice. Levy deserves a huge amount of credit for the way he has transformed the club, especially off the pitch. But a perceived lack of investment on it, coupled with a lack of silverware, has seen some fans turn on the chairman.
Another managerial change could further alienate supporters who are weary of “new eras” that fail to deliver trophies. Yet sticking with Postecoglou carries its own risks. If Spurs were to start next season poorly, it could be forced into the less-than-ideal scenario of finding a new coach mid-season.
Should Levy decide the time is right for another new head coach, Andoni Iraola would be an attractive appointment. The Spanish tactician has been linked with Spurs thanks to the excellent job he is doing with Bournemouth. He shares similarities with Mauricio Pochettino, whose tenure at Spurs is fondly remembered. Both got opportunities in the Premier League after managing Spanish clubs, and both have proved themselves with smaller English teams.
Appointing Iraola — assuming he would be interested in the job — would still be a significant gamble. He tactics may need to be adjusted for the Spurs squad. And a slow start would pile even more pressure on the players and Levy. The Tottenham Hotspur stadium could quickly become a toxic environment.
The frustration among supporters is understandable. After a promising start last season, when Spurs briefly looked like title challengers, Postecoglou’s team has badly underperformed this campaign. Spurs currently sits 14th in the table and seems unlikely to finish in the top half —potentially its worst season for two decades. It is a far cry from playing in the Champions League, a competition fit for the club’s state-of-the-art stadium and world-class training facilities.
Mitigating factors exist, most notably a brutal injury list that has deprived the team of key players for extended periods. But even with a near full-strength squad, Spurs has lost the attacking verve that defined Postecoglou’s philosophy. Defensively, the team remain fragile and far too easy to play through, a recurring problem that has not been addressed.
One glimmer of hope remains for the season to be a success: the Europa League. Winning it would secure the trophy Spurs so desperately crave and, more importantly from a business perspective, qualification for the lucrative Champions League. Two matches against Eintracht Frankfurt are to come next month, but given Spurs’ current form, few would bet on them going all the way.
If Postecoglou does stay, Spurs must back him in the summer transfer window. Reinforcements are essential for the head coach’s high-intensity style to be effective across a full season. The squad is crying out for a disciplined defensive midfielder capable of breaking up opposition attacks and progressing the ball forward. The forward line also needs reinforcements. Son Heung-min has been a tremendous servant to the club, but at 32, his influence appears to be waning.
Another summer of uncertainty looms for Tottenham Hotspur and Levy’s next move will define the club’s immediate future. If he believes it is worth persevering with Postecoglou’s vision, he must back him. If not, he needs to be as certain as he can be that a new appointment will take the club forward.
Spurs fans are tired of false dawns. If the manager won’t change, the club must decide if it is time, once again, to change the manager.